Youth Foiling Gold Cup Act 2 in La Grande-Motte, France

12 crews, 48 sailors representing 9 nations, have started the Act 2 of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup 2023 today in La Grande-Motte, in the south of France. Among them there are several youth crews from America's Cup teams, such as Luna Rossa (ITA) and Orient Express (FRA), and others who will participate in the Youth and Women America's Cup, such as Team DutchSail JAJO (NED), winner of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup in 2022, BYC Foiling Team (GER) and HRM Racing Youth Team (POL).

The hosts, Centre d'Entraînement Méditerranée, sees two of their associate on Orient Express, Enzo Balanger and Titouan Pétard, accompanied by Mathilde Lovadina and Théo Revil.

Among the two Italian crews are some of the top names in international youth sailing, such as Guido Gallinaro, double world and European champion in Laser, Margherita Porro, world champion in 29er, and Federico Colaninno, world youth champion in Finn. Luna Rossa will continue under the traditional names of Piranha and Swordfish.

Other teams include the recent winner of the first leg of the Algebris 69F Cup in Valencia, Groupe Atlantic, with Clement Cron at the helm and Pierre Mas as coach, Rocco Falcone's Rum Runners from Antigua, the Canadians of Volaire regularly sailing in the American 69F regattas, and Enzedder Racing (NZL), representing the Royal Yacht Squadron of Auckland.

Racing began today with very difficult conditions that tested the 12 teams who are alternating on six 69Fs, from a couple of displacement races with 5/6 knots early in the day, to nearly 20 that dropped back to 5 in the last race. Luna Rossa Piranha was the best of the day, followed by Team France and Rum Runners. 

"Today was a tricky day, we had light winds with displacement racing, then perfect foiling conditions up to 20 knots, and we close the race fighting to hold second place with only a 5 knots on the course", commented Federico Colaninno, sail trimmer for Luna Rossa Piranha. "I am happy with our and Swordfish's performance today, we are growing as a team and will continue to train in the coming days to learn how to work together and improve". 

The week's schedule includes qualifying races through Friday, May 12, while on Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14, the fleet will be divided into Gold and Silver.